Voters get a choice for DA

For the first time in 20 years, Glenn County District Attorney Robert S. Holzapfel has a challenger in the race for the county's top law enforcement position.

Robert J. Maloney pulled nomination papers Friday and said he plans to campaign hard for the prosecutor's office.

"I want to give the voters a real choice," Maloney said Tuesday. "The (district attorney's office) is too important and everyone should have a choice about those in positions defending our public safety."

Maloney, 68, was formerly the District Attorney in Glenn County in the 1970s and early '80s.

He stayed in Glenn County as a resident with his wife after leaving office in January 1983. His three adult children live in Butte County, including his oldest son, Mike Maloney, who was recently named chief of the Chico Police Department.

"I've always loved it here, I built my home here 30 years ago and plan to retire here someday," Maloney said.

Maloney said he stepped down because of a belief that long-term incumbency breeds complacency, but was careful not to cast aspersions on his opponent.

"I simply will not run a negative campaign, I don't believe in that," Maloney said. "People should not vote for me if they are happy with the way things are currently."

Holzapfel was in court Tuesday and not available for comment.

This is not the first time Holzapfel and Maloney have run against each other for the district attorney's job. In 1978, Maloney ran as the incumbent and defeated a challenge from Holzapfel.

Currently, Maloney is the assistant District Attorney in Shasta County.

Maloney has worked as a special prosecutor throughout the North State, he said, working on a variety of criminal cases, primarily as a prosecutor, but also had relatively brief stint as a public defender.

Maloney said he has been approached by many county residents, as well as local law enforcement officials, asking him to run for the office in recent years, claiming "the county needs a change" in leadership.

"But now feels like the right time to run, and I have a lot of experience as a prosecutor and a lot to offer the citizens," Maloney said.

Maloney began his career in law enforcement with the California Highway Patrol in San Francisco in the 1960s, he said, before earning his law degree from San Francisco Law School.

"I rode a motorcycle by day and went to law school at night," Maloney said.

Maloney said, if elected, he would pledge to "work closely with law enforcement to build cases together."

"When the troopers know that you're willing to work with them to develop cases and to take the time to solve issues together, then we become real partners in protecting public safety," Maloney said.

Contact Rob Parsons at 934-6800 or rparsons@tcnpress.com.